COMMISIONER BIOGRAPHIES

Justice Evelyn Z. Wilson
Justice Wilson

Evelyn Zabel Wilson was appointed December 16, 2019, to the Kansas Supreme Court by Governor Laura Kelly. She was sworn in January 24, 2020.

Previously, Justice Wilson was Chief District Judge of the 3rd Judicial District, which is Shawnee County. She served there as district judge for 15 years, presiding over a wide variety of cases and at least 80 felony jury trials.

Before becoming a judge, Justice Wilson practiced law for 19 years, first in Oberlin and then in Topeka. For three years, she was also an adjunct professor of law at Washburn Law School, teaching trial advocacy and advanced trial advocacy classes.

A native Kansan, Justice Wilson is a proud graduate of Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas, and Washburn University School of Law in Topeka.

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Thomas J. Bath Jr. was born in Kansas City, Kansas; was admitted to the Kansas bar in 1986; admitted to the Missouri bar in 1994; admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th and 10th Circuits; U.S. District Courts for the District of Kansas and Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri.

Following graduation from the University of Kansas School of law in 1986 Tom was employed at the Johnson County, Kansas District Attorney’s Office until 1992 where he prosecuted several high profile cases. Tom was recognized in 1992 as the prosecutor of the year in the State of Kansas. In 1992 Tom became an associate at the Bryan Cave law firm, becoming a partner in 1996. In 1996 Tom joined with Robb Edmonds to form the firm of Bath & Edmonds specializing in criminal law.

Tom’s practice includes representation of individuals and corporations on complex matters ranging from health care, tax and bank fraud to allegations brought by nearly every federal regulatory agency. Tom’s state practice includes every type of allegation including embezzlement, securities fraud, narcotics, vehicular homicide, DUI, robbery, sexual assault and murder. Tom is one of a select few who are asked by the courts (State and Federal) to represent persons charged with capital murder. Tom has been a featured speaker and panelist on numerous state and regional conferences addressing criminal law. Tom’s practice has included court appearances in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Colorado and Arkansas. Tom has tried approximately 300 bench trials and over 135 jury trials and briefed and argued in excess of 50 appellate cases before the Kansas and Missouri appellate courts as well as the 8th and 10th Circuit Federal Courts.

Tom is active in various local and state bar activities, is a former president of the Johnson County Bar Foundation and was on the Board of Directors for the Johnson County Bar. In 2000 and again in 2004 Tom was elected by his peers to serve on the Supreme Court Nominating Commission where he participated in the nomination of five Supreme Court and eight Court of Appeals candidates.

This is Tom’s second term on the commission. His term expires in March 2023

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Doug Brownlee currently serves on staff with The Navigators, a ministry that shares the gospel of Jesus and helps people grow in their relationship with Him. Since its founding in 1933, The Navigators has upheld the mission "To know Christ, make Him known, and help others do the same."

Doug has been active in Olathe as a youth coach when his children were young, a Republican precinct person and involved in several service organizations, including the Olathe Noon Rotary Club. Doug has served as an adult teacher at Journey Bible Church, as an elder and chairman of the elder board.

Doug and his wife Karin have four grown children and sixteen grandchildren and make their home in Olathe.

His term expires March, 2024,

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Mike Czinege currently retired from his business career in January, 2021. Most recently, he was the senior vice president/chief information officer for AMC Entertainment Inc. (AMC) for 13 years. He was responsible for AMC’s technology and systems team and led it to deliver quality technology initiatives.

Czinege began his AMC career in 2008 and has more than 40 years of experience in the technology and business consulting fields. Prior to AMC, he served as senior vice president/chief information officer of Applebee’s International, Inc. Prior to that, he was executive vice president of North American operations for Celerant Consulting and vice president of Cap Gemini Ernst & Young (CGEY). At CGEY, Czinege served as chief executive officer of the Telecommunications, Media and Network Outsourcing business. He has also held positions as a partner with Ernst & Young LLP where he serviced a number of large, multi-national clients, and as a partner at United Research, where he was responsible for its global consumer products and packaged goods practice.

He graduated from the University of Cincinnati with Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in business administration. He serves as a board member of Rockhurst University Helzberg School of Management Advisory Board. He is also a board member of Advice and Aid Pregnancy Centers. He lives in Overland Park, Kansas with his wife, Nancy, and children, Tyler, Megan and Todd. They have four grandchildren.

His term expires March, 2026.

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Stephene Moore has been a Johnson County resident for over 55 years and is a graduate of Shawnee Mission East High School, Johnson County Community College and the University of Kansas.

After earning her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing at the University of Kansas, Stephene has continuously maintained her license and worked in hospital and clinical settings as well as private practices. She has used her nursing background to volunteer with several organization to provide health care and education in the United States and abroad.

Stephene worked as the University of Kansas Project Coordinator for the Washington, DC Intern Program, with the Department of Political Science for six years.

Most recently, Stephene served as the Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services for Region VII (Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa). Appointed by President Barack Obama she worked tirelessly throughout the region to enhance and protect the health and well-being of all Americans by providing for effective health and human services and fostering advances in medicine, public health, and social services. Stephene served as the representative of the Secretary in direct official dealings with State and local governmental organizations.

She and her husband Dennis have been married 29 years and have a large blended family with seven adult children and fifteen grandchildren.

Her appointment is effective through March 1, 2024.

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James Griffith is one of the non-lawyer members of the Commission. Originally from the United Kingdom, he is a naturalized Kansan who took his oath of citizenship at the Federal Courthouse in Kansas City, Kansas. He has lived in Johnson County since 2007. His wife Bethany serves on the County Library Board. They have two children who are active in musical theater, dance and stunts through Trilogy Cultural Arts.

James holds a degree in Geology from the University of Oxford but today works in the software industry as a Director of Software Engineering at RSA, where he is responsible for the RSA Archer product, the world’s leading risk and compliance suite. Previously he worked at Commerce Bank in Kansas City, Missouri and various companies in the U.K.

James is honored to have been appointed to the commission. He believes that the American tradition of an active citizenry, participating in their own government, is the best guarantor of a well-run, free and orderly community; and that the same is the key to civic renewal and unlocking the possibility of a third American century.

His interests and hobbies include history, and writing.

His term expires in March, 2023.

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Rick G. Guinn is a partner with Colantuono Bjerg Guinn, LLC. The firm focuses on employment law and business litigation. He practices regularly in the state and federal courts of Kansas and Missouri.

Rick graduated from Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business. He obtained his law degree from Washburn Law School in Topeka. Rick worked in the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office for many years under the leadership of District Attorneys Dennis Moore and Paul Morrison. He was First Assistant District Attorney for eighteen years. Rick spent his final years as a prosecutor with the Kansas Attorney General’s Office as Deputy Attorney General in charge of the criminal division.

Rick is an active member of the Johnson County Bar Association where he served as President. He is a board member of the Johnson County Bar Foundation now serving his second four year term, and is a member of the Earl E. O’Connor Inn of Court.

Rick resides in Overland Park with his wife, Angela, and their two sons.

His term expires in March, 2024.

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Laura McConwell is a life long Kansan who left the state to attend college at Brown University then returned to attend law school at the University of Missouri- Kansas City. Since graduating, she has enjoyed a general practice which includes general litigation, acting outside counsel for business clients, real estate transactions, estate planning, probate and family matters. She offices with her father whose career focused on aviation and commercial litigation. Her office, McConwell Law Offices, is in Mission, Kansas. She is admitted to practice law in Kansas, Missouri, the United States District Court for the Districts of Kansas and Western District of Missouri, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, the United State Court of Federal Claims and the United States Supreme Court. In addition to these jurisdictions, she has tried complex civil matters in a variety of jurisdictions across our country.

Laura has been (and is currently) involved in many civic and public organizations. She was an elected leader in Mission, Kansas beginning with her first election as a Councilwoman from April 2000 – March 2002; and thereafter was the first woman Mayor of Mission, Kansas serving from March 2002 – April 2014. Laura is active in the Johnson County Bar Association (President 2019), Kansas Women Attorney’s Association and Kansas Bar Association. She is honored to serve on Johnson County’s Judicial Nominating Commission having been elected by her peer Johnson County attorneys. In addition to the JNC, Laura is a board member of the Foundation of Johnson County Parks & Recreation, a board member and Secretary of the Shawnee Mission Education Foundation, a youth leader at Hillcrest Covenant Church, Sponsor of the Shawnee Mission North Women’s Swim Team and is active with alma mater.

Laura and her husband have five adult children and fully enjoyed all the activities which come with raising active children; but with the youngest heading into her senior year of college, they find more time is spent with their babies still at home…..who some may refer to as "dogs."

Her term expires in March, 2024.

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Stephen Tatum s a Graduate of Washburn University Law School in 1974. He was a Assistant District Attorney in Sedgwick County 1974 to 1978 and Assistant District Attorney in Johnson County from 1978 to 1989. He was a Litigation Attorney for the Sprint Corporation from 1989 to 1994.

He served as Judge for the Tenth Judicial District from 1994 to 2013.

He currently serves on the Criminal Justice Advisory Council of Johnson County and also serves on the Board of Advisors for United Community Services. He works with the Changing Lives Through Literature Program. As a retired Judge, he fills in at Court as needed.

His term expires in March, 2023.

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Hon. Kevin P. Moriarty was born in Topeka, Kansas. He received his B.A. from Washburn University in 1975, his J.D. from Washburn University in 1978 and his M.P.A. from Kansas University in 1984. In 1979, he began his legal career at the Johnson County District Attorney’s office, later moving into private practice and eventually becoming a District Court Judge of the 10th Judicial District of Kansas in April, 2004. In 2014 he was appointed Chief Judge of the 10th Judicial District. While on the Bench he was assigned to the Criminal, Civil, and Child in Need of Care dockets. Judge Moriarty was considered a "utility player" covering every docket at the courthouse when other Judges needed assistance. Judge Moriarty retired from the Bench on June 28, 2019. Kevin started a mediation practice in Overland Park in July of 2019.

Kevin has 5 children (Shannon, Kelly, Erin, Maddox, and Maverick) and is married to Barbara Allen. He is a Member of the 10th Judicial Nomination Commission and on the Board of Directors for Allies for Racial Justice, Miracle of Innocence, and EmberHope.

His term expires in March, 2024.

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Greg Musil is a Kansas farm boy, educated at Frankfort High School, Kansas State University, and that University of Virginia School of Law. He worked on Capitol Hill for Senator Nancy Kassebaum for four years before returning home to Kansas and beginning his law practice with Shughart Thomson & Kilroy, P.C. in 1987. After five years with the merged Polsinelli Shughart firm, he joined the Rouse Frets law firm on December 1, 2014. His practice focuses on business and commercial disputes, including litigation, and real estate matters, including land use, zoning and development incentives.

Greg has participated in many civic and charitable activities, including as Chair of the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce, service on in leadership position with various service and charitable organizations, including Bethany Medical Center. the Wyandotte Health Foundation, the Kansas Hospital Association, the Kansas Leadership Center, the Overland Park Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Leawood Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Council, and the Olathe Medical Center Foundation.

During 2007-2008, Greg chaired Johnson Countians for Justice, a citizens’ campaign organized to oppose a referendum to change selection of Johnson County judges from a merit-based process to partisan political elections. Greg has been award two of the top honors given by the Johnson County Bar Association, the Justinian Award based on integrity, service to the community, service to the legal profession, warmth, friendliness and camaraderie (2013) and the Don Miller Spirit Award for a continued optimistic spirit that inspires and encourages others through the example of professional and personal life and demonstrates the warm and friendly relationship that defines a loyal friend and colleague (2018).

Greg served on the Overland Park City Council (1993-2001), including two terms as Council President. He was elected to the Johnson County Community College Board of Trustees in 2011, re-elected in 2015 and 2019, and currently serves as Board Chair. Greg was a Republican candidate for Congress in 2000.

Greg has two beautiful, smart, and energetic daughters, Elizabeth, a pediatrician with Olathe Health Systems, and Madeline, an education specialist with the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault. All are members of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection and try hard to count their blessings daily.

His term expires in March, 2023.

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Hon. Thomas Kelly Ryan serves as a District Court Judge in the Tenth Judicial District (Johnson County), since November 2008. Upon his appointment to the Court, he was one of three judges assigned to the Family Court for Johnson County (hearing divorce cases with minor children, paternity cases, child support matters and PFA/PFS cases). He transferred to the Criminal Department in July 2013. Judge Ryan served as Chief Judge for the Tenth Judicial District from 2018 through 2021.

Judge Ryan grew up in Johnson County. He received his B.A. degree from Creighton University in 1981 and his Juris Doctorate degree from Washburn Law School in 1985. After working as an Assistant District Attorney in Johnson County for three years, he joined the law firm that became Gates, Biles, Shields & Ryan, P.A. His private practice for 20 years consisted of civil litigation matters with a significant portion involving family law matters.

Ryan currently serves as President-Elect of the Kansas District Judges Association, as well as chair for the Judicial Council Adoption Law Advisory Committee, vice-chair of the Johnson County Criminal Justice Advisory Council and recently was appointed to the Board of Directors for CASA of Johnson & Wyandotte Counties.

Judge Ryan previously served on the Supreme Court’s Advisory Council on Dispute Resolution (vice-chair and chair), and the Judicial Education Advisory Council. Ryan is a member of the Johnson County (Past President and current member of the Board of Directors), Kansas (past president, Family Law Section) and American Bar associations.

Ryan lives in Shawnee and is the proud Father of two adult children and two wonderful granddaughters.

His term is effective until March, 2026.

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Annabeth Surbaugh has been involved with the community as an activist, volunteer, and elected official for over four decades. After graduating from the University of Missouri, Columbia with a Bachelor of Science in Retailing, she moved to Kansas City to be a buyer for the Jones Store Company. She went on to become a buyer for Harzfeld’s and then a buyer for Macy’s Department Store, Midwest (four- state area).

In 1976 she had her only child and became a stay at home mother due to her daughter’s illness. She created her own residential interior design firm, "Yours and Then Some." During this time she also became a citizen activist and volunteer. In 1988, she was elected to the board of Rural Water District No. 2 in an effort to get water pressure to her home in southern Overland Park. In 1989, she was elected to the board of Water One of Johnson County, becoming the first female Chair in 1991. In 1992, Annabeth was elected as the Third District Johnson County Commissioner. In 2002, she became the first County-wide elected Chair under the new Home Rule Charter.

In her volunteer and elected efforts, Annabeth championed many causes. She was always concerned for quality development and maintaining the urban core. She was a strong proponent of the financial accountability through auditing, strong financial reserves, and a budget the public could understand. She was a fierce champion for transparency, citizen input, and making all records easily accessible to the public. She created the first vision for Johnson County involving all constituencies in Johnson County called "Vision 2020." Her last efforts as Chair centered around restorative justice, creating the Criminal Justice Advisory Council (CJAC).

Annabeth has been very active in national, state, and regional organizations. She was on the board of the National Association of Counties for 18 years and chaired several committees. She was a member of the Federal Urban Wet Weather Flow Advisory Council which led to the national Stormwater II regulations. She was active in the Kansas Association of Counties, as well as a board member representing four states on the National Association of Regional Councils.

Annabeth was Chairman of the Bi-State Commission in 2010 and Chairman of Mid-American Regional Council (MARC) in 2010 and 2011. She was also a member of the charter Johnson County Education Research Triangle Authority and the Greater Kansas City Chamber.

Annabeth has been involved in many community charitable causes, focusing on education, the elderly, and those in need. Organizations served include Safehome, TLC for Children, United Community Services, Health Partnership Advisory Council of Johnson County, and Blue Valley School Business and Education for Schools of Tomorrow.

Her honors include:

  • WE KC, Women Executives – Kansas City
  • Ingrams’ Most Influential and Accomplished Women Executives in the Kansas City Area
  • Blue Valley Schools Friend of Education
  • United Community Services of Johnson County Distinguished Public Service Award
  • TLC for Children and Families Annual Advocate for Children
  • Kansas Families for Education Friend of Education Award
  • League of Women Voters "Making Democracy Work" Award
  • Mid-American Regional Council "2011 Regional Leadership Award"
  • Member of Leadership Kansas, Class of 1994
  • Featured in "A Passion of her Own – Life Path Journeys with Women of Kansas" by K. Sommers
Annabeth currently lives in Lenexa and enjoys her two grandchildren. She currently is a member of the StJames/COR Allies for Racial Justice Team and is a member of the Criminal Justice Advisory Council of Johnson County. She also works with Evening Reporting Community Coalitions(ERC). Annabeth is the president of her Falcon Valley Homes Association. She continues her support of local charitable and civic organizations with fund raising and advocacy.

Her term expires March, 2026.

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Sam Turner offers over 25 years of combined corporate leadership, legal and consulting experience as well as extensive community involvement as a director and member of the board on numerous nonprofit organizations.

In 2011, Sam retired from his position as President and Chief Executive Officer of Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. In that role, Sam generated 11 consecutive years of growth. He also created one of the most profitable surgery centers in the country, which delivered a 10-fold increase in shareholder value. A respected and valued member of the executive leadership team, Sam earned the top scores in patient satisfaction and employee engagement among all hospitals in the Adventist Health System, as well as the highest performance ratings from the Board of Directors and the medical staff. Under his leadership, Shawnee Mission Medical Center was repeatedly named one of Solucient’s 100 Top Hospitals, and won multiple awards for quality, including the Kansas Award for Excellence.

Before being recruited to Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Sam worked for several years as a private consultant and advisor to physician practices and hospitals, providing strategic direction and guidance on legal, reimbursement and compliance matters, as well as office administration, staffing, program development, marketing, and healthcare issues.

Prior to that, Sam was the strategic leader in executing the operational and financial turnaround of St. Vincent Charity Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, where he served as President and CEO. There, he worked with staff, board, and executive leadership to take the organization from slightly less than breakeven to profitability by adding new programs and recruiting world-class physicians.

Sam was also a driving force in the turnarounds of St. Mary Medical Center in Gary, Indiana (part of the Lakeshore Health System, Inc.) and Hyde Park Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.

In addition to his corporate and legal work, Sam has a record of leadership success as a member of the board of directors with numerous organizations, including Country Club Bank, The American Heart Association, The Urban League of Greater Kansas City, Union College, Johnson County Community College Foundation, The American Hospital Association, The United Way of Johnson County, Kansas, and more.

Sam earned his JD from Vanderbilt University School of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Tennessee State University.

Currently, Sam is exploring new opportunities and is eager to bring his leadership, experience, and knowledge to a corporation or nonprofit organization, including but not limited to an interim executive role or as a member of the Board of Directors.

His term expires March, 2023.

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